Controlled Flight Into Terrain · NTSB WPR14FA348
CLIFF STARDUSTER II SA300 — Placerville, CA
| Date | August 17, 2014 |
| Location | Placerville, CA |
| Aircraft | CLIFF STARDUSTER II SA300 (amateur-built) |
| Purpose of flight | Personal |
| Conditions | Day · Visual Meteorological Cond |
| Phase / occurrence | Maneuvering Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT) |
| Pilot age | 55 |
| Pilot total time | 432 hrs · Building experience |
| Time in type | 172 hrs |
| Fatalities | 1, 1 serious |
Probable cause
NTSB findings
- Not determined-Not determined-(general)-(general)-Unknown/Not determined - C
- Personnel issues-Physical-Impairment/incapacitation-Illicit drug-Pilot - F
- Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Gusts-Effect on equipment - F
What happened
While on approach for landing, the private pilot initiated a go-around on short final due to gusty crosswind conditions. During the climbout, the pilot reported that the airplane experienced a partial loss of engine power. The airplane subsequently collided with terrain, seriously injuring the pilot and fatally injuring the passenger. Postaccident examination of the engine and airframe revealed no evidence of any preexisting mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
Blood samples from the pilot tested positive for methamphetamine and its active metabolite, amphetamine. The methamphetamine was found at high levels, indicative of abuse. It is likely that the pilot was impaired by the psychoactive effects of illicit methamphetamine use at the time of the accident, which impaired his ability to maintain control of the airplane during the go-around attempt.